Sculptured nails. Where would our industry be without them? According to one estimate, acrylics, tips, and overlays comprise 80 percent of the professional nail industry. Whether this figure is totally accurate or not would be difficult to assess, but I doubt anyone would argue with the fact that sculptured nails are a booming part of the business.

We contacted several manufacturers of liquid and powder systems to find out their views of the industry: Where if began, what the latest developments are, and what they anticipate for the future.

Our contacts also discussed the increasing popularity of odorless sculptured nail products and both the real and imagined health problems associated with sculptured nails. Industry experts agree that there are a lot of rumors going around about the dangers of sculptured nail products, and these rumors are damaging the industry. Their solution to this problem: Education, education, and more education.

All the people we spoke with pointed out that a nail technician’s education does not end when she passes her state board exam and receives her license. It’s absolutely vital in such a swiftly changing industry that nail technicians take advantage of the classes and seminars offered by various manufacturers. Nobody can deny that, it used incorrectly, the chemicals nail technicians work with can be dangerous. It’s important, therefore, to know the proper, safe way to use these chemicals, both for your own health and that of your clients.

Another important part of the industry is nail wraps. Christine Mandish spoke to several nail technicians about the different materials and options available in today’s wraps. Her article also gives step-by-step instructions for applying nail wraps.

In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it’s often easy to overlook basic everyday requirements, such as safety precautions. Especially in a salon, where people congregate over potentially hazardous substances on a daily basis, it’s important to have a plan of action in case of an emergency. We hope you’ll never need to use the information in Allison Deerr’s health article on salon safety, but we urge you to read it before the need arises.

Computers are everywhere these days…even in the salon business. If you are thinking about computerizing your salon—or if you are convinced that a computer is the last thing your salon needs—check out Lisa Baget’s article on salon computers. Lisa spoke with several companies that make computer systems just for the salon industry. Some of her findings may surprise you.

If you’ve ever wondered how to supplement your income without adding more clients to an already full book, you may want to consider becoming a sales rep for a nail product manufacturer. Allison Deerr found out what various manufacturers look for in a sales representative. Moonlighting as a rep could be your ticket to a higher income level.